Waterproof case

ABSTRACT

A protective case for an electronic device may include a housing, a case cover and a gasket positioned between the housing and the case cover. The housing may include a case member, having a plurality of housing snap attachment structures formed therein. The case cover may likewise include case cover snap attachment structures formed thereon that couple with the housing snap fit structures. The gasket is positioned between planar surfaces of the case member and case cover so that it is axially compressed between the case member and the case cover to provide a water and air tight seal, with the compression of the gasket being maintained by the connection of the housing snap attachment structures and the case cover snap attachment structures.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation in part of U.S. application Ser. No.14/684,850 filed on Apr. 13, 2015 which claims priority to U.S.Provisional Application No. 61/978,452 filed on Apr. 11, 2014, titledWaterproof Case and US, the disclosures of which are incorporated hereinby reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Water and air sealed cases are disclosed for use with electronicdevices, and particularly for use with tablet computer devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Waterproof housings for electronic devices are known in the art. Howeverwaterproofing solutions that function well with smaller devices (e.g.,mobile phones) may tend to function less well when scaled up and appliedto larger devices (e.g., tablet computers). For example, the use of aradially compressed gasket works well with polycarbonate cases forphones. But, when applied to larger cases, radial compression may tendto cause the structure to flex and decrease the performance of thegasket seal. There is, therefore, a need for waterproof cases for largerdevices that are lightweight and maintain an air and watertight seal.Improvements are also needed in the sound transmission for such cases.

A protective air and watertight case is disclosed for use with apredetermined electronic device, such as a tablet computer (e.g., anApple® iPad®). The case may include at least a housing, a case cover,and also a case seal or gasket positioned between the case cover and thehousing.

The housing may include a case member (or case rear or case bottom) intowhich may be received a predetermined electronic device. The housing mayalso optionally include other features (e.g., bumpers, buttons, andother over- or co-molded assemblies) that are formed/molded/chemicallybonded and/or adhered to the case member that may function as protectiveelements, gaskets, and/or standoffs for the electronic device.

The case member of the housing may include a plurality of housingattachment structures and, optionally, one or more slots and portsformed therein. The housing attachment structures may be “snap”structures that may render an audible sound on engagement, or othermanner of fixtures. Suitable examples of attachment structures includefemale cavity on the case member that, as will be discussed herein, maybe engaged by complimentary male projections on the case cover.

The case member may also include a generally planar surface that extendsaround the perimeter of the case member. This planar perimeter surfacemay be positioned on the case member laterally inboard, or alternativelyoutboard, relative to the housing attachment structures of the casemember.

The case member may also include a wall that defines an interior surfaceand an exterior surface. The wall may have a generally uniform thicknessor, alternatively, areas of differing thickness. The wall, for example,may be dimensioned or otherwise shaped to define a recess on theinterior surface of the case member where the wall has a thickness of1.2 mm. Alternatively, the wall may have a thickness at the recessanywhere in a range between 0.2 and 1.6 mm, and it will be appreciatedthat the rest of the wall may have a thickness that is greater than thewall thickness at the recess. It will also be appreciated that thethinness of the wall at the recess, as will be explained infra, permitsimproved sound/audio transmission from the interior of the case to theexterior environment.

The wall of the case member may also be dimensioned to include a channelin the interior surface that extends from the recess to a positionproximate a location of a speaker of the predetermined electronic devicewhen the device is positioned in the case member. Alternatively, oradditionally, the case member may include one or more standoff membersthat extend from the interior surface and are likewise dimensioned toposition a predetermined electronic device in the case member so that aspeaker of the device is spaced from the interior surface. Thestand-off(s) may, for example, take the form of a plurality of moldedrubber ribs co-molded with the case member. It may also be appreciatedthat other structures (e.g., flanges, pins, etc.) may be used asstandoff members and that such standoff members may be mounted to thecase in a number of ways include being adhesively/glued and/orassembled. In operation, the channel and/or standoff(s) may form an airpassage or pathway that allows audio transmissions from a speaker of theelectronic device to move from the speaker, down to the recess, and thenout to the environment through the thinner wall at the recess.

The case cover (or case front or top) may also include a plurality ofcase cover attachment structures shaped to couple with the housingattachment structures. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that theattachment structures of the case cover may be complimentary to theattachment structures on the case member. The case cover may alsoinclude a generally planar surface that extends around a perimeter ofthe case cover. The position of the planar surface of the case cover maybe laterally inboard, or alternatively outboard, from the case coverattachment structures—and the case cover itself may be shaped so that,in an assembled configuration, the planar surface is directly oppositethe planar surface of the case member.

The case cover may also include a screen, with the screen optionallyincluding at least one port formed therein. One or more button featuresmay also be positioned in the port of the screen.

The protective air and watertight case may be formed, in part, byremovably joining the case member with the case cover. In joining thecase member with the case cover it will be appreciated that the planarsurfaces of each will be generally aligned with and opposed to eachother. In addition, the planar surfaces of each structure may be shapedor otherwise dimensioned so that a space is formed between the twostructures.

The case gasket may be attached to the case member, or the case cover,using mechanical, adhesive means or other means (e.g., over molding),and it may be shaped or otherwise dimensioned to extend into the spacebetween the planar perimeter surfaces of the case cover and the casemember. The case gasket, for example, may be formed as a separate memberhaving a mounting portion and a sealing portion. The mounting portionmay be mechanically secured to the case cover, or the case member, withthe sealing portion extending into the space. The compression of thegasket may then be maintained by the connection of the housingattachment structures with the case cover attachment structures so that,in operation, the case gasket provides a water and airtight seal for thecase.

The case member may also optionally include at least one membranepositioned in a slot of the case member proximate a location of amicrophone of the predetermined electronic device when the device ispositioned in the case member. The microphone membranes may be nopermeable to water. The microphone membrane may also include a membranegasket dimensioned to be contacted by the predetermined electronicdevice and space the device from the interior surface of the casemember. The membrane, which may be formed of a TPU, PI, PEN, PTFE, PVDF,PET or PC material, may have a thickness of from 5 microns up to 2000microns, a Young's Modulus from 50 MPa up to 80 Gpa, and a density from500 kg/m3 up to 2500 kg/m3.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a protective air andwater tight case in which an embodiment of a case cover with anassociated case gasket is displayed unjoined from an embodiment of acase member;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a case gasket;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a case gasketunassembled from a case cover;

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of an embodiment of a protectiveair and water tight case, in which an embodiment of a case cover with anassociated case gasket is displayed unjoined from an embodiment of acase member, and showing standoff rib(s) molded to the interiorperimeter of the case member and a standoff flange within a recess ofthe case member;

FIG. 5 is a planar side cutaway view of an embodiment of the protectiveair and water tight case in which the case gasket is a separate element,mechanically attached to the case cover, the gasket being secured to thecase cover by a mounting portion and with a sealing portion extendinginto a spaced defined by a planar perimeter surfaces, and the sealingportion being positioned outboard from the attachment structures, withthe air passage and recess also being shown;

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view of an embodiment of a protectiveair and water tight case in which is an embodiment of a case cover withan associated case gasket is displayed unjoined from an embodiment of acase member, and showing attachment structures on the case member andcase cover, standoff ribs molded to the interior perimeter of the casemember, and at least one (charging) port;

FIG. 7 is a partial planar side cutaway view of an embodiment of theprotective air and water tight case shown in FIG. 6, in which the casegasket is adhesively attached to the case cover outboard from theattachment structures, and the case cover includes a dust sealprojection that engages a dust seal groove formed in a bumper molded tothe case member, with the air passage and recess also being shown;

FIG. 8 is a partial planar side cutaway view of the case cover of FIG.7;

FIG. 9 is a partial planar side cutaway view of another embodiment forthe case cover in which the case gasket is co-molded or alternativelymechanically attached to the case cover by a mounting portion, and asealing portion extends into the spaced defined by the planar perimetersurfaces, and in which the gasket is also formed to include the dustseal;

FIG. 10 is a partial planar side cutaway view of an embodiment of theprotective air and water tight case, in which the case gasket includes amounting portion mechanical secured/fitted into a groove in the casecover, and with a seal portion that extends into the space outboard fromthe attachment structures;

FIG. 11 is a partial planar side cutaway view of another embodiment forthe case cover in which the case gasket is over-molded to the casecover;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the case cover and gasket of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a case cover with a mechanicallyattached cover gasket of FIGS. 2 and 3;

FIG. 14 is a partial planar side cutaway view of the case cover andcover gasket of FIG. 13 (see also FIG. 1-3) in which the gasket is shownto include a mounting portion/tab that extends through an aperturedefined in the case cover;

FIG. 15 is a partial planar side cutaway view of the case cover andcover gasket of FIG. 13 (see also FIG. 1-3) showing the seal portion ofthe gasket at a location between apertures in the case cover;

FIG. 16 is a partial perspective view of the case member and covergasket, in which the gasket is shown as a separate molded elementmechanically mounted to the case member, and in which (similar to FIG.13) the gasket extends through an aperture defined through a flange orlip on the case member;

FIG. 17A is a partial planar side cutaway view of the case cover joinedwith the case member and cover gasket, and in which the gasket is shownas a separate molded element mechanically mounted to the case member,and in which (similar to FIG. 13) the gasket extends through an aperturedefined through a flange or lip on the case member;

FIG. 17B is a partial planar side cutaway view of the case cover, casemember and cover gasket of FIG. 16 at a location between apertures inthe case cover;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the housing of thecase;

FIG. 19 is partial planar side cutaway view of the case cover, casemember and gasket, and showing a first and a second (acoustic) port withan (acoustic) membrane in each port;

FIG. 20 is a partial perspective view of separate button features and agasket;

FIG. 21 is a partial planar side cutaway view of the case cover, casemember and gasket, and showing a button feature;

FIG. 22 is a partial perspective view of separate button features and anmute toggle/mute silence rotating switch gasket;

FIG. 23 is a partial planar side cutaway view of the case cover, casemember and gasket, and showing a mute toggle/mute silence rotatingswitch gasket;

FIG. 24 is a sectional view of a case including a gasket, bumper andseal;

FIG. 25 is a sectional view of a case including a gasket, bumper andseal and electronic device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the various figures, there are shown various embodiments ofa waterproof case that may be used with a predetermined electronicdevice, such as a tablet computer (e.g., an Apple® iPad®). The case mayinclude at least a housing, a case cover (or front or lid), and a casegasket positioned between the case cover and the housing.

Still referring to the various figures, the housing may include a casemember (or case rear or bottom) into which the electronic device may bereceived and, optionally, other features formed/molded to the casemember that may function as protective elements, gaskets and/or channelsor standoffs for the device as will be described further below.

Still referring to the various figures, the case member may be formed ofvarious materials to provide a rigid structure for the protective case.In one aspect, the case member may be formed of a clear material such asa clear plastic resin. Alternatively, other materials may be used thatare not clear, such as other plastic resins or metal. Examples ofacceptable materials for use in forming the case member include variousplastic resins including polycarbonate, and other materials such aspolycarbonate blends, acrylics, Tritan copolyester, PES, etc.

Still referring to the various figures, the case member may include awall that defines an interior surface and an exterior surface for thecase member, and that may optionally include various slots and accessports formed therein. The slots and access ports may be used to actuatevarious functions using buttons or switches and/or allow soundtransmission, as will be described in more detail below. The case membermay include sealing and locating applied thereon on defined portions ofthe case member, such as about the slots and access ports to providelocation and a sealing for the electronic device as well as alloy accessto various buttons of the electronic device as will be described in moredetail below. In one aspect, the sealing and location material mayinclude button features formed of various plastic elastomers such as aTPE-TPU material, or that may be formed of other materials.

Still referring to the various figures, the case member may include aplurality of housing attachment structures. The housing attachmentstructures may be “snap” structures that may render an audible sound onengagement, or other manner of fixtures. Suitable examples of attachmentstructures include a male projection or a female cavity position on theinterior or exterior surface of the case member.

Still referring to the various figures, the wall of the case member mayalso define an upper surface that includes a generally planar surfacethat extends around a perimeter of the case member. This planarperimeter surface may be positioned laterally inboard, or alternativelyoutboard, relative to the housing attachment structures of the casemember.

Still referring to the various figures, the wall of the case member mayhave a generally uniform thickness, or it may have areas of differingthickness. The wall, for example, may be dimensioned to define a recesson the interior surface of the case member having a thickness of 1.2 mm,or alternatively anywhere in a range between 0.2 and 1.6 mm.

Still referring to the various figures, the wall of the case member mayalso be dimensioned to define a channel in the interior surface thatextends from the recess to a position proximate a location of a speakerof the predetermined electronic device when position in the case member.Or, alternatively, the case member may include one or more standoffmembers that extend from the interior surface and are dimensioned toposition a predetermined electronic device in the case member so that aspeaker of the electronic device is spaced from the interior surface.The stand-off(s) may, for example, take the form of a plurality ofmolded rubber ribs co-molded with the case member that project into theinterior of the case member. It will be appreciated that otherstructures (e.g., flanges, pins, etc.) may also be used as standoffmembers. The standoff members may also be dimensioned so that an airpassage or pathway is formed between the interior surface and thepredetermined electronic device (when positioned in the case member)that extends from proximate a location of the speaker to the recess.Thus, it will be appreciated that channel or standoffs, and theresulting air pathway or passage may operate to create a path for soundfrom the speaker of the electronic device to move from the speaker, downto the recess, and then out to the environment through the thinner wallof the recess.

The case cover (or case front or top) may also have a body that isshaped to include a plurality of case cover attachment structures thatcouple with the attachment structures of the case member. The case covermay, for example, including a body having a vertical portion with a maleprojection(s) configured to engage a complimentary female cavity of thecase member.

Still referring to the various figures, like the case member, the casecover may be formed of various materials to provide a rigid structurefor the protective case. The case cover may, therefore, be formed of aclear material such as a clear plastic resin. Alternatively, othermaterials may be used that are not clear, such as other plastic resinsor metal. Examples of acceptable materials for use in forming the casecover include various plastic resins, including polycarbonate, and othermaterials such as polycarbonate blends, acrylics, Tritan copolyester,PES, etc

Still referring to the various figures, the case cover may also includea generally planar surface that extends around a perimeter of the casecover. Like the complimentary structure of the case member, the planarperimeter surface of the case cover may be laterally inboard, oralternatively outboard, from the case cover attachment structures.

Still referring to the various figures, additionally or alternatively,the case cover may include a window portion that receives a screenmember. The screen member, if present, may be a separate piece attachedto the case cover using various methods including an adhesive, welding,or molding. Alternatively, the screen member may be formed with the casemember but with a thickness that is different from other portions of thecase member. In one aspect, the screen member may be formed of a clearmaterial allowing vies ring of a display of the electronic device. Thescreen member may have a thickness that allows a user to manipulate atouch screen of the electronic device through the screen member. Thescreen member, therefore, may be formed of a polycarbonate material andhave a thickness of about 0.1 to 0.5 millimeters to permit a user tomanipulate a touch screen with or without another screen protectorapplied to the electronic device. The screen member may also optionallyinclude a screen that includes at least one port formed therein, intowhich a button feature may be positioned (such as through co-moldingwith the screen member).

Still referring to the various figures, the case may be formed byremovably joining the housing with the case cover. In joining the casemember and the case cover it will be appreciated that the planarsurfaces of each may be generally aligned and opposed to each other. Inaddition, the two planar surfaces may be dimensioned so that a space isformed between the two structures.

Still referring to the various figures, the case gasket may be shaped orotherwise dimensioned to extend into the space between the case coverand the case member. The gasket may be attached to the case member orthe case cover by mechanical, adhesive or other means (e.g., overmolding). Although, in one aspect of the case the gasket may be formedas a separate member having a mounting portion that is mechanicallysecured to the case cover and a sealing portion that extends into thespace between the two planar surfaces. The case gasket may also beformed from various thermoplastic elastomers such as a TPE-TPU material,or formed of other materials such as rubbers including silicone. Inoperation, the case gasket may provide a water and airtight seal for thecase and the compression of the gasket may be maintained by theconnection of the housing attachment structures with the case coverattachment structures.

Still referring to the various figures, the case member may alsooptionally include at least one membrane, such as a microphone membrane,that may be nonpermeable to water. The membrane may be formed from TPUwith a thickness of 0.03 mm and adhesively mounted about a slot of thecase member proximate a location of a microphone of the predeterminedelectronic device when the device is positioned in the case member. Itwill be appreciated, however, that other materials such as TPU, PI, PEN,PTFE, PVDF, PET or PC material, may also be used to form the membrane. Amembrane gasket, formed of rubber or foam such as poron, may be mountedto the membrane to standoff the electronic device from the membrane andto acoustically isolate a microphone of the device from ambient soundwithin the case (such as might be emitted by a speaker of the electronicdevice).

The protective air and watertight case disclosed herein may be formed invarious embodiments, select examples for which are discussed infra.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3 (see also FIGS. 13-15), one embodiment of aprotective air and water tight case 10 may include a housing 12, a casecover 14 and a case gasket 16 positioned between the housing 12 and casecover 14. As shown, the case 10 and its component structures may have agenerally rectangular shape. However, it will be appreciated that thecase 10 may be shaped or otherwise dimensioned to be complimentary tothe shape of any predetermined electronic device 500 (see e.g., FIG.20).

As best shown in FIG. 1, the housing 12 may include a case member 18 (orcase rear or bottom), into which the electronic device 500 may bereceived, with the case member 18 having wall 20 that defines aninterior surface 22 and an exterior surface 24. The case member 18 mayalso include a plurality of housing attachment structures 26. Thehousing attachment structures 26 may be “snap” structures that mayrender an audible sound on engagement, or other manner of fixtures.Suitable examples of attachment structures 26 include a male projectionor a female cavity 28 defined in the interior 22 or exterior surface ofthe case member 18.

Still referring to FIG. 1, the wall 20 of the case member 18 may alsodefine an upper surface 30 that includes a generally planar surface 32extending around the perimeter of the case member 18. This planarsurface 32 may be positioned laterally inboard or outboard relative tothe housing attachment structures 26 on the case member 18.

Still referring to FIG. 1, the case member 18 and/or housing 12 mayoptionally include various slots and access ports formed therein. Theslots and access ports may be used to actuate various functions usingbuttons or switches and/or allow sound transmission, as will bedescribed in more detail below. As best shown in FIG. 1, the slots mayinclude a first 33, a second 34, and a third slot 35 slot, and the portsmay include at least a first 36 and a second 38 acoustic port, a cableaccess port 40 and a mute toggle/mute silence rotating switch port 42.Button features 44, 46, 47 may be positioned in the slots 33, 34, 35,with seal members and/or gaskets positioned in the access port 40, andmute toggle/mute silence rotating switch gasket 48 positioned in theswitch port 42. The case member 18 may also be shaped to include alanyard support structure 54.

Continuing to refer to FIG. 1, the housing 12 may further include arubber (e.g., TPE or silicon) bumper 56 co-molded to the exteriorsurface 24 of the case member 18 and so that with the rubber may extendthrough apertures (not shown) in wall 20 the case member 18 to form aplurality of ribs 58 extending from the interior surface 22.

Still referring to FIG. 1, the wall 20 of the case member 18 may have agenerally uniform thickness. Additionally, or alternatively, the wall 20may be dimensioned to define a recess 60 on the interior surface 22 ofthe case member 18 having a thickness in a range between 0.2 and 1.6 mm,with one preferred thickness for the recess being about 1.2 mm, andanother preferred thickness being 1.2 mm.

Still referring to FIG. 1, the ribs 58 of the case member 18, or asimilar structure (e.g., a channel (not shown) defined the interiorsurface 22), may extend from the recess 60 to a position proximate alocation of a speaker of the predetermined electronic device 500 whenposition in the case member 18. When so positioned, one or more of theribs 58 may serve to provide impact/drop protection to the electronicdevice 500. Additionally, or alternatively, the standoff member(s) mayfunction to position a predetermined electronic device 500 in the casemember 18 so that a speaker (not shown) of the electronic device 500 isspaced from the interior surface 22. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 4, otherstructures, such as a flange 62 may also be used as a standoffmember(s).

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the case cover 14 (or case front or top)may include a body portion 64 from which may extend a flange or verticalportion 66. The flange or vertical portion 66 may be shaped to include aplurality of case cover attachment structures 68 that couple with theattachment structures 26 of case member 18. Each attachment structures68 of the case cover 14 may, for example, include a male projection 70configured to engage a female cavity 28 of the case member 18.

Still referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the body portion 64 of the case cover14 may also include a generally planar surface 72 that extends around aperimeter of the case cover 14. The planar surface 70 may be positionedlaterally inboard, or alternatively outboard, from the case coverattachment structures 68. The body portion 64 may also be shaped sothat, in an assembled configuration with the case member 18, the planarsurface 72 is opposite the planar surface 32 of the case member 18.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, the case cover 14 may optionally include awindow portion 74 that may receive a screen member 74. The screen member76, if present, may be a separate piece attached to the case cover 14using various methods including using an adhesive 76, welding ormolding. Alternatively, or additionally, the screen member 74 may beformed with the case cover 14 but with a thickness that is differentfrom other portions of the case cover 14.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-4 and 5, it will be appreciated that thehousing 12, and particularly the case member 18, and case cover 14 maybe removably joined together by engagement of the respective attachmentstructures 26, 68. Moreover, when so joined, a space 78 may be formedbetween the planar surface 72 of the case cover 14 and the opposingplanar perimeter surface 32 of the case member 18.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the case gasket 16 may be mechanicallyattached to the case cover 14, with a sealing portion 74 of the gasket16 extending into the space 78 defined by the planar surfaces 32, 72 andbeing axially compressed between the surfaces 32, 72 to provide a waterand air tight seal for the case 10.

Referring again to FIGS. 1-4, and as best shown in FIG. 5, as mentionedsupra, the interior surface 22 of the case member 18 may include theribs 44 (and/or other standoff member e.g., channel or flange 62) or itmay be otherwise dimensioned to form an air pathway 80 or passage thatextends from proximate a location of a speaker (not shown) of apredetermined electronic device 500 to the recess 60. Thus, it will beappreciated that the air pathway 80 may operate to permit sound from thespeaker of the electronic device 500 to move from the speaker, down tothe recess 60, and then out to the environment through the thin wall ofthe recess 60.

It will also be appreciated that various means exist for attaching thecase gasket 16 to the case cover 14, or to the cover member 18. Forexample, referring now to FIG. 5, in one embodiment of the case 10 thecase gasket 16 may include a C-shaped mounting portion 82 secured abouta complimentary shaped body portion 64 of the case cover 14. The gasket16 may further include a sealing portion 74 that, as mentioned supra,extends into the space 78 between the opposing planar surfaces 32, 72 ofthe case member 18 and case cover 14. In addition, the sealing portion74 of the gasket 16 may engage a bumper 56 assembled on the exteriorsurface 24 of the case member 18 to provide protection from dust andother contaminants.

Referring now to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, there is shown an embodiment of case10 in which the case gasket 16 is adhesively mounted to the planarsurface 72 of the case cover 14. In addition, the case 10 may include adust seal 84 formed from a male member 86 on the body portion 64 of thecase cover 14 that engages a female groove 88 formed in a bumper 56 ofthe housing 12.

Referring now to FIG. 9, there is shown an embodiment of the case 10 inwhich the case gasket 16 is molded to the body portion 64 of the casecover 14. Specifically, a mounting portion 82 of the case gasket 16 maybe co-molded about a pin 90 that extends radially outward from the bodyportion 64.

Referring now to FIG. 10, there is shown an embodiment of the case 10 inwhich the case gasket 16 is mechanically attached to the flange 66 ofthe case cover 14. Specifically, a mounting portion 82 of the casegasket 16 may be secured in a groove 92 defined in the flange 66 of thecase gasket 16, between the attachment structure 68 and the body portion64, and so that the sealing portion 74 extends to the space 78 betweenthe case cover 16 and the case member 18.

Referring now to FIGS. 11 and 12, there is shown an embodiment of thecase 10 in which the case gasket 16 is attached to the case cover 14 byover molding the case gasket 16 to the generally planar surface 62 ofthe body of the case cover 14.

Referring now to FIGS. 13, 14 and 15, there are shown further views ofthe embodiment of the case 10 of FIGS. 1-3, in which the case gasket 16is mechanically attached to the case cover 14. More specifically, asbest shown in FIG. 14, the flange 66 or vertical portion of the casecover 14 may include a plurality of apertures 92 that are each engagedby one of a plurality of tabs 94 of the case gasket 16. The tabs 94 maybe squeezed into a cavity 96 formed by the body portion 64 and flange 66and thus be held in place by friction of the undercut.

Referring now to FIGS. 16, 17A and 17B, there is shown in embodiment ofthe case 10 in which the case gasket 16 is formed as part of the bumper56. As best shown in FIG. 16, the sealing portion 74 of the case gasket16 may extend through apertures 96 defined in a vertically extending lip98 formed about a perimeter of the upper surface 30 of the planarsurface 32 of the case member 18.

Referring now to FIGS. 18 and 19, acoustic membrane assemblies 100, 101may be positioned in the first 36 and second 38 acoustic ports of thecase member 18. Each microphone or acoustic membrane assembly 100, 101,may include an acoustic membrane 102 mounted, using an adhesive having athickness in the range of 0.005 mm to 0.4 mm, to one side to theinterior surface 22 of the case member 18 about each port 36, 38. Themembrane 102 may be in the form of a thin film or sheet of material thatcovers the opening of the port 36, 38, and is attached to the interiorsurface 22 the case member 18 so as to prevent entry of water and airallowing for a clear transmission of sound. The membrane 102 materialmay be that as described above. It will be appreciated, however, thatmembrane material having the requisite properties that permit thetransmission of sound clearly and without degradation of the bassfrequencies, and prevents feedback and echoes within the case, may bepreferred. An acoustic gasket 104, formed for example of rubber, mayalso be mounted to the other side of each membrane 102 to standoff themembrane from the electronic device 500 and to acoustically isolate adevice microphone 502 from ambient sound within the case 10 (such asmight be emitted by a speaker of the electronic device 500).

In addition, it will be appreciated that the acoustic membraneassemblies 100, 101 may also be used in connection with other functionsof the electronic device 500, such as functioning as a protectivebarrier for a device flash (not shown).

Referring now to FIGS. 20, 21, 22 and 23, the case 10 may include buttonfeatures 44, 46, 47 in the slots 33, 34, 35 and also a mute toggle/mutesilence rotating switch gasket 48 positioned in the port 42 that ispositioned in respective ports and slots of the case 10 to permitactuation and use of the electronic device 500 within the case 10. Forexample as shown in FIGS. 20 and 21 the first slot 33 may be formed inthe case member 18 (an also, additionally, the bumper 56) to include abutton retention space 106 having a floor 108 positioned opposite abutton 504 of the electronic device 500 when the device 500 ispositioned in the case 10. The button retention space 106 may receive acatch portion 108 of a rubber button feature 44. As shown in FIG. 23,the switch gasket 48 may include a body 110 having an O-ring 112 thatoperates to seal the port 42.

Referring to FIGS. 24 and 25 there is shown an alternative structure ofthe case 10. In the depicted figures, the case cover 14 and the casemember 18 as substantially the same as that described above, withdifferences described in more detail below. The structure of the gasket16 and the over-molded bumper 56 are modified in relation to thestructures described above, as will be discussed in more detail below.

Referring to FIGS. 24 and 25, the gasket 16 is formed with themechanically attached bumper 56. The gasket 16 is mechanically attachedto the case member 18 about the entire periphery of the case member 18.The case member 18 includes a slot 602 defined between an extension 604that extends from a bottom surface of the case member 18 and a hookmember 606 that also extends from the bottom surface of the case member18. A portion 608 of the gasket 16 is received in the slot 602. The hookmember 606 is retained within a cavity 610 formed in the gasket 16. Inone aspect, the hook member 606 does not extended through the gasket 16as described above, but rather is retained in the cavity 610 which isformed in a mid-portion 612 of the gasket 16.

The gasket 16 includes a lower member wedge 614 that compresses againstthe rigid structure 616 formed in the case member 18. On a top portion618 of the wedge 614 there are formed ribs 620 that are compressedagainst the case cover 14 when the case 10 is assembled. The ribs 620define the sealing portion 74 that, as mentioned supra, extends into thespace 78 between the opposing planar surfaces 32, 72 of the case member18 and case cover 14. The gasket 16 also includes an attachment slot 622formed therein that receives an attachment portion 624 of the casemember 18.

Having described various embodiments of the case 10, various otherembodiments will become apparent to those of skill in the art that donot depart from the scope of the claims.

We claim:
 1. A protective case for an electronic device comprising: acase member, the case member including a plurality of case member snapattachment structures formed therein, the case member including at leastone acoustic port formed therein, and the case member having an exteriorthat includes a bottom surface, an extension and a hook member eachextend from the bottom surface and are spaced from each other to definea slot therebetween; at least one acoustic membrane mounted to the casemember about the acoustic port, the at least one membrane being air andwater proof; a case cover including case cover snap attachmentstructures formed thereon that couple with the case member snapattachment structures; the case member and the case cover beingremovably joined and defining an air and water tight volume shaped toreceive an electronic device; and a gasket co-molded to the case member,the casket defining a cavity, being mechanically attached to the casemember and having a portion that extends over the exterior of the casemember, and being positioned between planar surfaces of the case memberand case cover, the gasket being axially compressed between the casemember and the case cover to provide a water and air tight seal, and thecompression of the gasket being maintained by the connection of the snapattachment structures and the case cover snap attachment structures, andthe hook member of the case member being retained within the cavitydefined in the gasket.
 2. The protective case of claim 1 wherein thegasket includes a wedge formed thereon received in a groove formed inthe case member.
 3. The protective case of claim 2 wherein the wedgeincludes ribs formed thereon sealing against the case cover.
 4. Theprotective case of claim 1 and wherein the gasket is attached to thecase member about an entire periphery of the case member.
 5. Theprotective case of claim 4 wherein the gasket is formed with a bumper atleast a predetermined portion of which covers a predetermined area ofthe periphery of the case member.
 6. The protective case of claim 1wherein the gasket includes an attachment slot formed therein thatreceives an attachment portion of the case member.